Biochemical Pathology

Candida albicans Heme Oxygenase

The C. albicans gene HMX1 encodes a heme oxygenase that uses oxygen and NADPH to catalyze the conversion of heme to a-biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron.

This gene is rapidly induced when C. albicans is grown in the presence of mammalian hemoglobin and metabolizes exogenous hemoglobin to yield biliverdin, which can be detected by its blue-green color:

Both CO and biliverdin show promise as immunosuppresive agents for organ transplantation. We have developed a new method to obtain biliverdin using C. albicans, which is described in US Patent 7,504,243

Last Updated 6/24/2009 9:35:16 AM